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India eVisa validity to extend to one year

Travelers will be able to obtain an India eVisa which is valid for a year and allows multiple entries into the country. The announcement was made by the Indian High Commission in New Zealand yesterday.

At the moment, the maximum validity of the electronic visas is only 60 days. Tourists and business people will soon be able to enter multiple times over a period of a year as long as the duration of each visit does not exceed 90 days.

If the intended stay is longer than this duration it will be necessary to go to an embassy or consulate to apply for a visa. The Indian eVisa is available in five categories: tourist, business, medical, conference, and medical treatment.

The eVisa originally launched in 2014. It is available to citizens of 166 countries who have been taking advantage of its quick and simple application process. Applicants just need to complete an online form and pay a visa fee by credit or debit card in order to receive the eVisa by email.

According to official statistics, over 2 million tourists have arrived in India using the eVisa in 2018. The figure is expected to rise this year.

Tourism in India and why it is so popular

Tourism is an important part of India's rapidly growing economy. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated US$210 billion in 2017 . This is 9.4% of the country's GDP.

The five most visited cities, in order, are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Agra, and Jaipur. Delhi, the capital city was the 21st most visited city in the world last year. Mumbai was the 22nd.

There is an incredible amount of attractions to see considering India has 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Only five countries have more. Some of the most famous include the Taj Majal, the Sun Temple, the Khajuraho Temples, and the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

The number of fascinating sites reflects a history which spans over 4,500 years, from the Vedic period (1700-500BC) to modern day. Many of today's popular cultural practices, such as yoga and karma, originated in India and date back centuries. The country is very diverse in terms of religion, as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, and Jainism are all major religions.

India is a vast country so the best time to go depends on which region you visit. Generally speaking, the best months are October to March when the days are warm and there is little rain.

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